I just love pitching up after a long day’s hiking with a heavy pack and then relaxing on the cold, hard ground”, said no one, ever. Sit pads like the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat and Nemo Chipper are truly just a piece of foam that offers just a hint of padding and primarily keeps your butt from getting wet and dirty if you're sitting on the ground.

This one-pound(ish) stool is big on the comfort that you'll really appreciate when you're not sitting in the dirt.Though 2 ounces could be a deal-breaker to some hikers, the vast majority of even the most ultralight backpackers are willing to add the minuscule weight of the Therm-a-Rest Z Seat to their kits.

We also found that the space-saving hubless pole design takes slightly more time to assemble than the hubbed pole models, but only by around 10 seconds, so we're splitting hairs here. We found the hubless pole design on the Big Agnes Big Six to be great for reducing bulk and increasing stability, but it does mean the setup requires a bit more focus than poles that spring into place mostly on their own. By evaluating comfort, size, weight, stability, and ease of use, we feel confident that you now have the information you need to select the best chair for you.

Backpackers willing to put in extra work for extra comfort will rejoice when discovering the Big Agnes Big Six chair. The chairs we tested from Big Agnes have color-coded poles and pole pockets for a quick visual cue during assembly. The Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair Kit is unique in that it provides infrastructure for an inflatable sleeping pad to be used as a seat.

We noticed a slight curve to the lower back, which knocks the comfort rating down from a perfect score, but overall, this model keeps the user's back fairly straight.Backpacking enthusiast and lead reviewer, Elizabeth Paashaus has spent hundreds of mornings, evenings, and lunch breaks seated on the ground, which is enough to appreciate the comfort afforded by a lightweight camp chair. Add in the facts that there is zero setup involved and that these seats are known to last for decades, and you've got a winner. But if you want a lighter option without going the foam pad route, the 18-ounce Helinox Chair Zero can lighten your pack without completely sacrificing comfort. Two tent-style chairs stand out for excellent ventilation: the Moon Lence Backpacking Chair and the TravelChair Joey with their large mesh panels. The shape of the seat fabric cups your rear with a nice deep pocket that keeps you firmly planted while relaxing.

When sitting and moving around in the Skyline, our testers have been able to reach for things off to the side, lean down to cook on the ground, and even tilt back on two legs with caution. There are other chairs in this review that are lighter, but this one is by far the best combination of comfort and weight. The backrest of this chair is a bit lower than ideal, coming in just under the shoulder blades of our 5'8" tester. Ultralight nylon 70d Robic™ with nylon 66 rip-stop for extra tear strength – seriously get your hands on this stuff and you’ll feel how strong it is, particularly at the pole inserts. But if you're looking to shave off some weight, the 2 ounce Therm-a-Rest Z Seat is the lightest in our lineup.

For an elevated sitting spot from which you can cook dinner, share a snack, or take in the sunset, we are stunned by how much we enjoy the Skyline UL Stool. The wide, scooped seat offers plenty of support and space for your rear, unlike some of the small tripod stools that have the unfortunate appearance of being swallowed up. Why not have a quick read of our latest article about Big Agnes Tents and Camping Accessories to help you get the most out of your next adventure. Because comfort is a significant part of this review, we allocated 35% of each chair's overall score to this metric. Whether you’re an experienced hillwalker or a total newbie, we can work with you to create an amazing experience in nature that you’ll never forget.